How Do You Give A Cat A Bath?

[Yavin4]

Or do you?

[mnhtnbb]

1. Carefully. Cover your arms and wear gloves. Have a big towel ready

for wrapping and drying.

Good luck!

[dgibby]

2. How old is the cat? How big? How high is your pain threshold?

Be sure to clip his claws first. It might better better to take kitteh to the groomer for his first bath, watch how they do it.

[vadawg]

3. dishwasher???????????

not a cat person so i have no idea...

[MrMickeysMom]

4. I used to do this when I lived in Florida...

Largely, it was due to the flea population, which is nothing like where I live in SW PA. Now, I just let these babies stay indoors and lick themselves, ad nauseam.

Step 1. Say happy things whilst running a tepid bath water with Pennyroyal cat shampoo nearby.

Step 2. Continue saying happy things whilst placing the little crumb grabber in 2 inches of water, sprinkle water, add shampoo, lather gently, rinse, repeat to the "naughty-bits" area... continue happy, happy talk, promises of treats.

Step 3. Be prepared for purring that indicates they are scared, rinse one more time while still in tube talking happily and making more promises.

Step 4. Have 2 big fluffy towels, one flat on floor outside of tub, the other ready to cover the little howler who's possibly pissed off beyond being your friend for the rest of the day.

Step 5. Keep talking happy, happy, happy whilst drying with top towel. Get er reeeeal good, cause she's about to take off whilst telling you to "fuck off, bitch!".

Step 6. Keep following the little baby doll around the home with treats and ask forgiveness.

Step 7. Do this on sunny day, so they can find a sunny spot to brood. They'll sleep like bastards afterwards, cause it's like so traumatic for them.


Mr. Mickey Says, "I don't need no stinken baaaaff!""

[gbate]

5. Sink works better than the tub. My cat actually doesn't mind it too much.

[hippywife]

16. Sink is definitely

easier on my back than trying to use the tub. :hi:

[cleveramerican]

6. very very quickly

no garden hose
strictly a sponge and a bucket.

skunk mishap?

[Orsino]

7. ...and the lowest ER co-pay your provider can negotiate, n/t

[Brigid]

18. But insurers will not cover risky behaviors.

I'm sure cat bathing would be considered one of those. :evilgrin:

[Orsino]

20. You're probably right.

Specifically excluded under the acts-of-God clause.

[Deja Q]

8. Spray bottle, washing machine, depriving him of drinking water so he'll have to go in the tub...

:shrug:

[sarge43]

9. You asked

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d9QwK5EHSmg

(We take no responsibility for any personal injuries or mental trauma)

[bookworm65t]

10. get a professional

I let my cat groomer do it for me. Costs $25 but well worth it. The paii-in-the-ass acts very sweety sweety for the groomer but acts like a nightmare for me.

[hobbit709]

11. Throw it in the washing machine and close the lid.

[meow2u3]

12. Here's how to give a cat a bath

http://www.jokesclean.com/Pet/Cat-Jokes.php

[MajorChode]

26. I've seen it before, but thanks for reposting it

I love that one.

[applegrove]

36. That is very funny.

[DevonRex]

13. Clip the cat's claws FIRST. nt

[pokerfan]

14. How to wash a cat

Instructional video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d9QwK5EHSmg

[Brigid]

17. I'm weak . . .

I've just spent the last six minutes or so screaming with laughter, tears streaming down my face, and with my own two felines looking at me warily from the bedroom door! :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

[onestepforward]

15. I don't..

Barring extreme circumstances, cats keep themselves clean and most really hate to get a bath. For some cats, it can be traumatic. If needed, I'll just wipe them down with a damp cloth. :)

[muffin1]

19. Unless there are extraordinary circumstances,

I don't recommend bathing a cat. I have owned many cats over the years - have four now - and have never had to bathe one. They groom themselves almost constantly. If there is an extraordinary reason, I would recommend a professional.

[theNotoriousP.I.G.]

21. Once and then you've learned your lesson

Some people try buckets, I wasn't that smart. I tried it in the bathtub and still have the scars to remind me. Let a professional take care of it. That's my advise.

[BreweryYardRat]

22. Wear lots of protective gear.

Heavy denim clothes and yard gloves, motorcycle leathers, suit of armor...

Whatever you've got that'll keep kitty from shredding every bit of flesh he can get his claws into.

[elocs]

23. I let a professional do it.

Actually in the 35 years or so that I've had cats I've only given one a bath and that was a white cat who got under the car and her coat was all oily. It was not pleasant.

My current cat is a longhair, the only one I've ever had, and she will be 16 next month. About 2 months ago her coat got so knotty that I took her to the groomer to have her clipped. They gave her a lion cut and she did look funny but was much cooler in the summer. Plus, she has not been good about grooming herself so this was much easier, and they also gave her the only bath she has ever had.

[Shell Beau]

24. You don't.

But I don't have a cat. I had one when I was little, and we just let her bathe herself.

[wickerwoman]

25. I worked in a pet shop in high school

and had to bathe kittens all day. It's not as hard as it seems, you just need the right equipment.

I'd use a big, industrial sized sink if you have one. You'll need either a detachable shower head or you can buy a plastic one that fits over regular faucets. This is a necessity.

Hold the cat gently by the scruff of its neck with one hand. This releases chemicals that lets the cat relax. Work with the other hand. Keep calm. If you freak out, the cat will freak out.

Test the water first to make sure that it isn't too hot or cold. If it's warmish, it's perfect. If you wouldn't bathe in it, don't spray it on your cat.

Rinse the cat keeping the shower head close to their skin so it feels like they're being stroked or licked. Be careful not to spray them in the face or in the ears. Keep the water away from their head in general.

Add shampoo and lather it. Then rinse again. Spot clean the cat's face with a wet towel if you absolutely have to but otherwise, the cat can keep it's own face clean.

Dry the cat off with a towel. Let the cat hide until it recovers its dignity.

I wouldn't bathe a cat regularly though. They can clean ordinary messes themselves. I'd only bathe the cat if there was some special emergency like it fell in wet paint or was coated in mud.

Good luck!

[MajorChode]

27. I can't tell you how to do it, but I can show you what it looks like...

[Yavin4]

34. Where Was That Done? Gitmo?

Was that cat a terrorist?

[chknltl]

28. Take the lid off of the aquarium???

[grace0418]

29. I do it in the kitchen sink, only once a year or so. He doesn't love it but he's fine.

I keep a big towel on the edge of the sink, fill the sink about 1/4 full with warm water and let him stand in it for a minute before I start scooping it over him. He loves the cuddling in the big towel afterwards, and lots of brushing. It's not bad.

[Orrex]

30. Overturn a laundry basket on him and blast him with the hose

Works with stubborn toddlers, too, but not at the same time.

[donheld]

31. .

http://wilk4.com/humor/humorm346.htm

[gmoney]

32. I tried once...

but I kept gagging from all the fur stuck to my tongue.

(Apologies to Steve Martin)

[Orrex]

37. You have Steve Martin's fur on your tongue?!?

[Robeson]

33. You don't have to. Good combing every once in awhile works fine.

[Phoonzang]

35. I just put mine in the bathtub wet her down, shampoo her, then rinse her off

She doesn't do anything. She just sits there looking at me the whole time. I've heard this is very unusual.

[eridani]

38. Cat spit usually does the trick

[av8rdave]

39. Garden hose?

[haf216]

40. Pay the vet tech $5.

I have to many scars, so I no longer bathe cats.

[kwassa]

41. Fleabath special

This is specifically to get rid of fleas, which requires complete dunking. I discovered through much trial and error that the flea shampoos are not as effective as putting the entire cat completely underwater quickly, as fleas drown the instant they go underwater. I also use the shampoo, but by itself the shampoo hasn't been effective.

If it is not done quickly, all the fleas run up to the cat's head and ears, making the situation worse. And cats don't like being underwater. I use a five-gallon can, lukewarm water, lots of love to the cat before, during, and after, with plenty of towels after the fact. After the quick dunk, I hold the cat in the warm soapy water for a little while, take her out and dry her off.

[astral]

42. Cats may hate baths more than they do hand-held showers

just be real careful it's not too hot for them -- -LUKE!!! - warm.